Word Origin & History

lapse 1520s, "slip of the memory," from M.Fr. laps "lapse," from L. lapsus "a slipping and falling, flight (of time), falling into error," from labi "to slip, glide, fall." Meaning "a moral slip" is from 1580s; that of "a falling away from one's faith" is from 1650s. Legal sense of "termination of a right or privilege" first recorded 1560s. The verb is first attested 1640s. Related: Lapsed; lapses.

Example Sentences for lapsing

She saw in his eyes the look of a person who has been all day lapsing into meditation and rousing himself from it.

Do you think that I am on the verge of lapsing into complete idiocy?

“Adversity is a strict master,” he said, lapsing into his own language again.

A prudent person, lapsing into a dilemma, is specially discomfitted.

“Any of the folks here would be proud to serve you, Madame Caron,” said the woman, lapsing again into calm reticence.

"Five dollars," repeated the old lady, lapsing into senseless iteration.

Thus were we lapsing into the real good old Indian style of doing business.

Hans replied to this sally with great vigor, lapsing into Dutch.

The clashing waters were cleansed now, waste of waves, where the wandering fiend her life-days left and this lapsing world.

"Ay, I dinna ken about that," she replied, lapsing into the speech of her girlhood.